Page 50 - Pakistan Cricket Team

Wasim Akram asks PCB to delete commemorative video clip without Imran Khan

Legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram on Wednesday asked Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to delete and apologise to fans for making a commemorative video clip without featuring Imran Khan, the 1992 World Cup winning captain. On August 14, the PCB shared a video clip celebrating the best moments of Pakistan cricket and the crowning moment was understandably the World Cup victory 31 years ago. But Imran, who led that team, was not to be seen anywhere in that clip which ran for 2 minutes and 21 seconds. Akram, who played a vital role in that triumph, expressed his dismay over omitting his fast bowling mentor from the video. After long flights and hours of transit before reaching Sri Lanka, I got the shock of my life when I watched PCB's short clip on the history of Pakistan cricket minus the great Imran Khan. Political differences apart but Imran Khan is an icon of world cricket and developed Pakistan into a strong unit in his time and gave us a pathwayPCB should delete the video and apolog

Asia Cup unleashes grandest stage for IND vs PAK rivalry: Ravi Shastri

Former India coach and captain Ravi Shastri feels that Asia Cup will set the stage for the India-Pakistan World Cup rivalry

Wahab Riaz announces international retirement to focus on franchise cricket

Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz on Wednesday announced his retirement from international cricket to focus on playing T20 leagues around the world. The 38-year-old left-arm pacer played 27 Tests, 91 ODIs and 36 T20 Internationals from 2008-2020, claiming 83, 120 and 34 wickets respectively. "After an incredible journey, I've decided to retire from international cricket. Big thank you to PCB, my family, coaches, mentors, teammates, fans, and everyone who supported me. Exciting times ahead in the world of franchise cricket!, he said in a statement posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. "As I bid farewell to this chapter, I am thrilled to embark on a new adventure in franchise cricket, where I hope to entertain and inspire audiences while competing against some of the best talents in the world, added the fast bowler. Riaz is the ninth bowler in history of Pakistan to take a five-for on debut, recorded against England as he took 5/63 at The Oval. Riaz also took a famous .

Shaheen Afridi signs three-year deal with ILT20 franchise Desert Vipers

Star left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi has signed a three-year contract with Desert Vipers for the second season of the UAE's ILT20, and will become the first Pakistan player to play in the league in January next year. "I am excited to join the Desert Vipers. I know there are many Pakistan cricket fans in the UAE and I hope they will support our team in the upcoming ILT20," Afridi said in a statement. The next season of ILT20 is scheduled to begin on January 13, and Afridi could join the team after returning from Australia. The Vipers had tried to sign a few players from Pakistan last year as well but those attempts didn't materialise. Last year, Vipers had signed Azam Khan, which would have made him the first Pakistan player in the ILT20, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not grant him the no-objection certificate to play in the league. The PCB's current chairman Zaka Ashraf has, however, is allowing players to participate in various T20 leagues. "Shaheen is undeniably a play

Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan appoints sports psychologist Maqbool Babri

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed sports psychologist Dr Maqbool Babri to counsel the men's team during ODI series against Afghanistan in Sri Lanka followed by the high-profile Asia Cup before the marquee World Cup comes calling. "Yes, Dr Maqbool Babri who has worked in the past with counselling of some of our players will be accompanying the squad," a PCB source said. He said the board wanted to facilitate the players in every way possible so that they were able to focus completely on their cricket and matches. Babri has in the past also worked with some players helping them understand how to handle pressure situations and get through bad performances and personal issues. A source in the PCB said that Babri was being sent with the team so that the players can always have a qualified psychologist to sit down with and discuss any issues instead of bottling up their feelings. The PCB announced on Sunday that a pre-Sri Lanka departure camp for the players in Pakistan wil

Pak cricket team at ICC World Cup to be treated like any other team: MEA

India on Friday said the Pakistani cricket team will be treated just like any other squad participating in the upcoming ICC World Cup in the country. India is hosting the tournament from October 5. "The Pakistan cricket team will be treated just like the cricket team of any other country participating in the ICC World Cup," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. On Pakistan seeking better security for its team, he said the questions should be better directed towards the security agencies or the organisers. "Of course, we would hope that all necessary security will be provided not just to them but to all other participating teams." "I hope that there is a good match and I hope this is not war as it seems to be made out to," Bagchi said when asked about Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's reported comments that Islamabad does not mix sports with politics and that was the reason why it decided to send the team to the tournament and defeat India in

Pakistan's Asia Cup 2023 squad: Faheem Ashraf, Tayyib Tahir surprise picks

While Tayyib Tahir was rewarded for his performance in the recently concluded Emerging Teams Asia Cup final against India. Fast bowling all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has been called back

How to deal with pressure of Indo-Pak game? Anil Kumble's key suggestions

India are set to play Pakistan in the Asia Cup and the World Cup in the coming two months, and legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble said on Tuesday that the key will be to take it as just another game of cricket. The former India captain has an outstanding record against Pakistan in both Tests and ODIs, having taken 81 wickets from 15 Tests, including snaring all 10 wickets in an innings (10/74) in 1999 at New Delhi. In 34 ODIs against Pakistan, Kumble has grabbed 54 wickets. "In our times, the word was 'lose even to Kenya but not to Pakistan'. There was pressure and expectation on the players. "That's how the matches between India and Pakistan are being played and the key is to treat it as just another match," Kumble said here while speaking during the launch of Pitchside, the memoir written by veteran cricket administrator Amrit Mathur. The function was also attended by former India batter and the current NCA chief VVS Laxman and former India wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani. The 10-wick

ODI World Cup 2023: McGrath picks AUS, ENG, IND and PAK as semifinalists

The legendary Glenn McGrath on Monday picked India, Australia, England and Pakistan as the semifinalists of the 2023 ICC World Cup, adding that playing in an ODI series here prior to the showpiece would help his country immensely in terms of preparation. The tournament will be held in India in October-November. With Australia and England dominating the ICC competitions lately, McGrath feels that the two sides have the best chance of making it to the last-four stage of the showpiece. "Although the (Australian) Test team is quite different to the one-day one, I think they will do well. Australia is one of the top four teams to make it to the semis of the World Cup," he said during his visit to the MRF Pace Foundation academy here. "They like competing in the big tournaments and big games. They perform well and have got enough experience, and also have some younger guys coming through. Also, they have enough matches in the sub-continent to prepare for the tournament." "I put India an

Inzamam-ul-Haq re-appointed as chief selector of Pakistan cricket team

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday re-appointed the legendary Inzamam-ul-Haq as its chief selector, bringing back the former skipper for the role for a second term. Inzamam, 53, had earlier held the position of chief selector between 2016 and 2019. The 1992 World Cup winner had given his consent last week to become a paid selector. Inzamam has played 120 Tests, making 8830 runs at an average of 49.60 with 25 hundreds and 46 fifties. From 378 ODIs, Inzamam amassed 11739 runs at 39.52 with 10 centuries and 83 fifties. He had also played a lone T20I for his country. In his latest role as the chief selector, Inzamam will succeed Haroon Rasheed who stepped down last month. Some very important assignments are in front of Inzamam as his primary task will be to name Pakistan squad for the 50-over World Cup to be held in India across October and November. It may be recalled that Inzamam had picked Pakistan squad for the ICC World Cup 2019 as well. Now, the fate would have him dra

Pakistan cricket team gets government clearance for World Cup participation

The Pakistan government on Sunday gave clearance to the country's senior men's team to travel to India for the 2023 World Cup, ending months of uncertainty over their participation in the showpiece. A press release from the foreign ministry informed that Pakistan has consistently maintained that sports should not be mixed with politics. It has, therefore, decided to send its team to India to compete in the upcoming World Cup. "Pakistan believes that the state of bilateral relations with India should not stand in the way of fulfilling its international sports-related obligations," the release said. The ministry said that Pakistan, however, has deep concerns about the security of its team and it would convey them to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Indian authorities. "We expect that the full safety and security of the Pakistan cricket team will be ensured during its visit to India," the release said. It also said that Pakistan's decision shows its "constructive and .

Pakistan board mulls sending psychologist with team to India for WC 2023

Ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is exploring the possibility of sending a psychologist with the squad to India to cope with the pressures of the high-profile tournament. However, a final decision in this regard will be taken only after PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf's meeting the captain Babar Azam. Azam is currently playing for Colombo Strikers in the Lanka Premier League (LPL). Zaka is a big believer that having a psychologist with the players will help them, especially when they are not performing well or feeling external pressures of a tour to India, said a PCB official. He said the presence of a psychologist is imperative for Pakistan since they are visiting India for the first time since 2016. When Zaka Ashraf was Chairman (of PCB) he had got a well-known psychologist Maqbool Babri to work with the players and he also went with them to India in 2012/13, said the official. The official said the Pakistan players had sessions with a sports psycholog

Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq to head Pakistan's Cricket Technical Committee

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced the formation of a Cricket Technical Committee (CTC) to be headed by former captain Misbah-ul-Haq. Besides Misbah, former skippers Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez will be the members of the committee. It also includes the head of the PCB's domestic cricket department and a representative of the chairman of the Cricket Management Committee. For the last few days, speculations were rife that Zaka Ashraf had formed the cricket committee with Misbah as its head and that it had already held a meeting. But the official announcement came one day after another former captain, Rashid Latif, who attended the preliminary meeting, made it clear that he has no association with any PCB committee. The board also confirmed the Cricket Technical Committee would only make recommendations on cricket-related matters to the chairman, who will take a final decision on them. The PCB said CTC will provide recommendations on cricket-related matters,

WTC 2023-25 points table: England docked 19 points, Australia 10 in Ashes

For every over short, one point would be deducted from all points earned by the team. The decision would be conveyed to the teams after the end of the series

ODI World Cup: Pakistan panel likely to visit India to review security

The committee headed by foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto might not take a tough stand stance on Pakistan's participation in ICC ODI World Cup in India

IND vs PAK in World Cup: Pakistan agree to play on October 14 vs India

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has agreed with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on the proposed change of dates for two of its matches

Here's why Pakistan's Bismah Maroof withdrew from Asian Games 2023

Bismah declined to be part of the Asian Games squad after the organisers refused permission to participating nations to have athletes bring their babies for the Games

Former Pakistan pacer coins new term 'Pakball', Pak scored 178 runs in 38.3

After Bazball and Dravball, former Pakistan pacer coined the new term 'Pakball' as the green army smashed 178 runs in just 38.3 overs in the second inning of 2nd test

Pakistan's Ayesha Naseem retires at the age of 18 for religious reasons

The Pakistan star women cricketer retired from international cricket citing religious reasons for her decision, saying she wants to live her life "according to Islam"

Mohammad Hafeez front-runner to become Pakistan's chief selector

Former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez is a front-runner to become the national team's chief selector after the conclusion of the team's ongoing Sri Lanka tour. According to sources, Hafeez is favoured by the new chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board's Cricket Management Committee (CMC) Zaka Ashraf, to be appointed as the chief selector a post that is lying vacant after the pervious CMC was dissolved in June. "Zaka met with former captain, Rashid Latif and Hafeez and spoke to them about becoming chief selector. Rashid was not keen on the job but Hafeez (has) expressed his availability for the job, the source told PTI. "Rashid was more interested in working on anti-corruption issues. Hafeez who played 55 Tests, 218 ODIs and 119 T20Is for Pakistan before retiring last year, made it clear that he would like the challenge of working as the chief selector," the source added. Haroon Rasheed was a member of the previous CMC headed by Najam Sethi and was named chairperso